“I Am Not Afraid” – Fubara Dismisses Impeachment Fears Amid Rivers Crisis

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed concerns over a possible impeachment following the Supreme Court’s ruling that recognized the 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike. The court also ordered the suspension of federal allocations to Rivers State until Fubara submits the state budget to the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule. Additionally, the court nullified the local government election conducted under Fubara’s administration last year.

The judgment has significantly shifted the balance of power in Rivers State’s ongoing political crisis, which began in October 2023. The conflict between Fubara and Wike led to a split in the state House of Assembly, with 27 lawmakers siding with Wike and four remaining loyal to Fubara. An initial impeachment attempt against Fubara by the pro-Wike lawmakers in 2023 resulted in the bombing of the Assembly complex. Fubara had since refused to recognize the 27 lawmakers, arguing they lost their seats after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and instead presented the state budget to the four lawmakers who supported him.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, dismissed any threat of impeachment, stating that the governor remains focused on governance and project inaugurations. He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision did not remove Fubara from office but only withheld the state’s allocations. Johnson also stated that the government would await the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before making any decisions regarding compliance. He maintained that the 27 lawmakers had been legally removed by a Rivers State High Court ruling, though the Court of Appeal later ruled that the state court lacked jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Rivers elders who have supported Fubara throughout his conflict with Wike have advised him not to seek reconciliation with his former political ally. High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a member of the Rivers Elders Forum, insisted that the state would not bow to pressure from the federal government or Wike’s camp. He asserted that the people of Rivers would respond at the right time and dismissed any suggestion that Fubara should negotiate with Wike and the pro-Wike lawmakers.

In a separate development, Fubara has ordered the chairmen of the 23 local government councils to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) following the Supreme Court’s decision to annul their election. The governor directed that the HLGAs will oversee the councils until fresh elections are conducted. He acknowledged disagreement with the Supreme Court’s ruling but affirmed his commitment to obeying the law. He assured Rivers residents that his administration would study the judgment thoroughly once the CTC is received, expected by March 7, before deciding on further actions.

The court’s ruling has heightened tensions in the state, with reports suggesting that local government chairmen from Wike’s tenure may attempt to reclaim their positions. The pro-Wike Assembly members had previously extended the tenure of the council chairmen by six months, bypassing Fubara’s authority. This decision led to conflicts at several council secretariats, with reports of vandalism. Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, one of the ousted chairmen, stated that he and his colleagues would wait for further directives from the state House of Assembly regarding their status.